Bed Sheet with Compartment for Feet

ABSTRACT

A bed sheet placed on a mattress for bedding includes a region of fabric defining a compartment for surrounding a user&#39;s feet at one end of the mattress.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and incorporates entirely by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/866,098 filed Aug. 15, 2013 and entitled Bed Sheet with Compartment for Feet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of textiles, namely bed sheets.

BACKGROUND

Standard bed linens include at least a bottom sheet and a top sheet tucked into the space between the bed base, or “box springs,” and an upper mattress. In most situations, the bottom sheet is a fitted sheet with elastic sewn into four corners of the bottom sheet to secure the bottom sheet to the upper mattress so that when a person sleeps on the fitted sheet, the fitted sheet stays in place if the sleeping user moves around in the bed. The top sheet is typically free of all elastic, and, other than a hem about its edge, has no particular structural modifications along its perimeter. One end of the top sheet is typically tucked into the space between box springs and the upper mattress. The other end of the top sheet is pulled upwardly over the mattress toward the headboard and is left loose so that the user can pull the top sheet back to go to bed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet.

For purposes herein, an upper mattress is the mattress, padding, or other structure on which individuals sleep and is typically surrounded by a tightly matched fitted sheet. The upper mattress has two ends, referred to as a top end near a headboard or wall and a lower end near a footboard. When making a bed, an individual typically tucks a first end of the top sheet under the lower end of the upper mattress, and, furthermore, tucks corners of the top sheet proximate the first end of the top sheet under the upper mattress as well. A careful person tucks the corners in neat triangular portions sometimes referred to as “hospital corners.”

An issue arises in making a bed when the corners of the top sheet that are tucked under an upper mattress and also encompass a wide swath of the top sheet so that a large portion of an outer edge along the side of the bed is also tucked between the box spring and mattress. Tucking either a larger area of the top sheet under the upper mattress, or pulling the top sheet to a very tight fit between tucked corners makes it difficult to recline between the sheets or to move one's feet once in bed.

A need exists in the art of bed sheets for a new top sheet structure that includes an area for tucking and staying in place during sleep but simultaneously allows for controlled foot movement and a comfortable foot position during sleep.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bed sheet placed on a mattress for bedding includes a region of fabric defining a compartment for surrounding a user's feet at one end of the mattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a top sheet with a compartment for feet as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a top sheet with multiple compartments for feet of different individuals sleeping in the same bed as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the top sheet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the top sheet of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the top sheet of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Terminology used herein has the broadest plain meaning associated thereto. Accordingly, the term “bedding” encompasses any structure on which individuals recline in a generally prostrate position. In describing bedding, the terms “top sheet” or “flat sheet” are used to describe sheets of fabric used in bedding and generally positioned over an individual sleeping on a bed that secures the top sheet or flat sheet at one end. A “fitted sheet” is a sheet that includes elastic or has a sufficiently definable shape so that it fits tightly over and around at least a portion of a mattress on which an individual sleeps. These sheets are not limited to any particular fabric and may be made of any materials.

The disclosure herein describes the top sheet and the fitted sheet in relation to a bed that, in one embodiment, includes a standard box spring and an upper mattress on the box spring. Typically, an individual sleeps on the upper mattress, and the upper mattress is positioned atop the box spring. The sleeping or resting individual is usually positioned between the fitted sheet directly atop the upper mattress and the top sheet that surrounds the sleeper's body. Overall, the box spring, the upper mattress, the sheets, and the sleeping or resting individual is directly supported by a bed frame.

The above noted terms and relative positions are not intended to limit the invention or use of the invention to any particular embodiment. Instead, the invention described below is sufficiently broad that numerous arrangements for bedding are encompassed therein.

In one embodiment, a flat sheet or top sheet (5) includes a region of fabric defining a compartment (10) that allows extra room for an individual's feet at an end of the bed proximate a footboard. In this embodiment, the top sheet (5) includes a contoured region of fabric that is intended to be looser and define an enclosed area sufficient for an individual to rest in bedding with the individual's feet in the compartment (10). The compartment (10) may be part of a continuous piece of fabric that makes up the top sheet (5), or the compartment (10) may be formed of separate sheets of material, including foot panel (14) and side panels (15A, 15B). Regardless of whether the top sheet (5) and the foot compartment (10) are defined by sewing a single piece of fabric or multiple pieces of fabric, the compartment (10) adds additional functionality to a regular top sheet by defining a region in which an individual's feet have room to fit and even move around if desired. In one embodiment, the compartment (10) is enclosed on three sides and defines an opening on one side into which the user slides his or her feet for sleeping with the feet entirely surrounded by fabric and within the compartment.

The compartment (10) is useful in numerous ways to an individual sleeping under a top sheet (5) as a part of bedding. When the top sheet (5) is tucked at its lower corners between mattresses (or between a mattress and a base, floor, or box spring), the tucked portion of the top sheet can be as tight as desired so that a made up bed is attractive and wrinkle free. Even when the top sheet is tucked extremely tightly with elegant corner attention at the foot of the bed, a user can still slide into bed and have room for the user's feet to be comfortable. The the compartment (10) includes sufficient area so that a region, or enclosure (16), between a fitted sheet and a top sheet is expanded in a region that would typically encompass a sleeper's feet when resting on the bedding.

FIG. 1 indicates one example of a top sheet (5) having sufficient material at one end to define an enclosure in which an individual's feet fit when resting within bedding. FIGS. 2-5 show an embodiment of the top sheet (5) with separate foot compartments for individuals sleeping side by side in a bed. The stitching that defines the separation panel (12) gives each individual a degree of separation from each other. The foot compartments (10A, 10B) are shown without an individual's feet therein and rest on top of the lower portion of the bedding. A user would simply pull back an end of the top sheet (5) opposite the foot compartments (i.e., adjacent a headboard), and fit their feet into a respective enclosure (16) defined by compartments (10A, 10B).

The compartments (10) for a sleeper's feet are useful in situations where a bed needs to be arranged with a very tight fitting top sheet (5) tucked under an upper mattress so that the bed is made neatly and to exacting standards but with ample room for an individual to slide his feet under the covers. In this way, the tightly tucked top sheet (5) stays in place very well even if the individual moves his feet around in bed because there is enough room within the foot enclosure (10) to allow for the individual's feet therein. The compartment may also be useful for co-sleepers who would rather not have another individual's feet and legs on “their” half of the bed. In this situation, the compartment (10) holds a resting person's feet within a section of the top sheet (5) and separates co-sleeping individuals' pairs of feet from each other. Finally, without limiting the invention to any particular purpose, the enclosure (16) defined by the compartment (10) may be useful for individuals with muscular and nervous system conditions that cause the individuals to move their legs and feet during sleep. The compartment (10) is designed to allow a limited range of motion for an individual sleeping under the top sheet (5) but is sufficiently large to allow a restless sleeper to move his feet if necessary without feeling entirely confined and restricted.

The drawings and disclosure herein are intended to document the concept of the top sheet with foot compartments and to set the priority of invention for a forthcoming non-provisional patent application. 

1. A bed sheet placed on a mattress for bedding, the bed sheet comprising: a region of fabric defining a compartment for surrounding a user's feet at one end of the mattress.
 2. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said region of fabric comprises a contoured surface extending from a flat surface of said region of fabric, said contoured surface surrounding said compartment.
 3. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said region of fabric defining said compartment is a continuous extension of said region of fabric.
 4. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said region of fabric defining said compartment comprises separate panels.
 5. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said separate panels comprise a foot panel and side panels.
 6. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said compartment comprises a sufficient volume to allow a user's feet to fit therein and move therein.
 7. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said compartment comprises a sufficient volume to allow a user's feet to fit therein while simultaneously being so dimensioned as to allow a limited range of foot movement.
 8. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said compartment collapses into a substantially flat shape when not in use.
 9. The bed sheet of claim 1, configured with corner sections for tucking under a mattress to define a top sheet for sleeping.
 10. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said compartment is stitched to one side of said bed sheet and defines an opening for sliding a user's feet therein. 